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EPISODES:  24, including pilot.
LENGTH:  60 Mins.
FORMAT:  Mono, Video and film integration.
PRODUCTION:  ABC Production. 1969 (play) Melbourne, 1970 (series 1) Sydney, 1971 (series 2) Sydney.
RUNNING ORDER:  Airdate.
NETWORK:  ABC.

CAST:
David Mason.......KEVIN MILES
Peter Mason.......NICK TATE
John Mason.......RON GRAHAM
Jack Mason.......JOHN TATE  (Eps 1 - 10)
'Unk' Martel.......BEN GABRIEL
Patricia Mason.......PAT BISHOP
Jacob Goldberg.......OWEN WEINGOTT
Nigel Dayton.......TONY WARD
Kathy Mason.......ANNE HADDY
Maggie Tench.......LYN JAMES
Christopher Mason.......SERGE LAZAREFF

CREW:
Theme music.......LAURIE LEWIS

AWARDS:
1970 Logie: Best New Drama Series.
1970 Penguin: Tony Morphett - Scriptwriting for Dynasty play.
1971 Logie: Tony Morphett - Best Scriptwriter.
1971 Penguin: Tony Morphett - Scriptwriting for episode 12 ‘The Killing Ground’.
1971 Penguin Commendation: Kevin Miles - acting.
1971 Penguin Commendation: Alan Burke - production.
1971 Awgie: Tony Morphett - Best Script For A TV Drama Series for episode 5 'Cry Me A River'.

 

EPISODE TITLES
~ Dynasty (play)
Series 1
1. Gran Turismo
2. Catwalk
3. Counterpoint
4. Young Jim Westlake
5. Cry Me A River
6. Paper Of The People
7. Second Pressure
8. The Champion
9. Have You Got The Numbers?
10. When All The Bets Were Off  Final John Tate
Series 2
11. Dead Man's Chair
12. The Killing Ground
13. The Coorabungle Deposit
14. Corrida For A Stunt Man
15. Who Wants A Bridge?
16. Detour To Power
17. Nothing Personal
18. Whatever Happened To Jamie Brooks?
19. Two Reds Don't Make A White
20. Countdown
21. Full Circle
22. Man In The Middle
23. A Half Tone Block Is Black And White

 

~ Dynasty

David Mason.......Kevin Miles
John Mason.......Ron Graham
Jack Mason.......Brian James
Peter Mason.......Mark McManus
Kathy Mason.......Patsy King
Jacob Goldberg.......Alan Hopgood
Jim Richards.......Terry Norris
.......John Paton

Script.......Tony Morphett
Director.......Oscar Whitbread

Synopsis: Inventor Jim Richards seeks backing from the Mason family for a revolutionary new machine. However, when different parts of the empire are competing for capital, can an honest man stay honest? Will the man in the middle survive? In the ensuing power struggle, Richards is crushed by the machinations of the Mason empire.

Notes: One of a series of six unrelated ABC plays. Tony Morphett won a Penguin award for the scriptwriting of this play. Features some different cast members than appeared in the series - Brian James as Jack instead of John Tate; Mark McManus as Peter instead of Nick Tate; Alan Hopgood as Jacob Goldberg instead of Owen Weingott; and Patsy King as Kathy instead of Anne Haddy.

Airdate:
Melbourne & VIC regional 29/10/69
Sydney & NSW regional 29/10/69
Canberra 29/10/69

Kevin Miles and Ron Graham

SERIES 1

1. Gran Turismo

Larry Conrad.......Bill Hunter
Frank Benson.......Peter Gwynne
Mrs. Blake.......Faye Sharpe
David's secretary.......Lea Denfield
Nightwatchman.......Spencer Pearson
Jerry Blake.......Bob Woodham

Script.......Tony Morphett
Director.......Tom Jeffrey
Executive Producer.......Eric Tayler
Script Editor.......Glyn Davies

Synopsis: The Masons are involved in industrial rivalry between two car firms. Their photographer from ‘The Standard’, Jerry Blake, dies on an assignment while photographing the Matthews Automotive Industries secret project model. Unk and Jack intend to publish photos of the new car in ‘The Sunday Standard’ even though it will mean financial loss for the Matthews firm.

Notes: On screen scriptwriter credit is David Anthony, a pseudonym for Tony Morphett.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 7/10/70
Canberra 7/10/70
Melbourne & VIC regional 9/10/70
Brisbane & QLD regional 9/10/70

Ep. 1: Bill Hunter and Anne Haddy

2. Catwalk

Jason Werner.......John Forgeham
Jenkins.......Cecily Polson
Danny Bernac.......John Wood
Georgina Clausen.......Cornelia Frances
Larry Conrad.......Bill Hunter
Freda Murphy.......Leila Blake

Script.......Tony Morphett

Synopsis: The successful glossy magazine for women, 'Lilith', is threatening the Mason's magazine 'Homemaker'. The Masons approach Jason Werner, independent publisher of 'Lilith', with a takeover bid.

Notes: This episode led to a spin-off series, Catwalk, produced by Davies - Morphett Productions for ATN-7. The same guest actors took part, playing similar characters with different names, except for Cecily Polson who retained the name Jenkins in both. (See Catwalk section).

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 14/10/70
Canberra 14/10/70
Melbourne & VIC regional 16/10/70
Brisbane & QLD regional 16/10/70

Cecily Polson and Cornelia Frances

3. Counterpoint

Bob Knight.......Don Barkham
Wren.......Ric Hutton

Script.......Glyn Davies
Director.......Frank Arnold

Synopsis: The compere of the controversial MSN-6 current affairs programme 'Counterpoint', Bob Knight, dies as a result of a car crash on the night he accuses three prominent men of bribery. This causes trouble for Peter Mason, as Knight's death leaves his TV station without evidence to support the allegations.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 21/10/70
Canberra 21/10/70
Melbourne & VIC regional 23/10/70
Brisbane & QLD regional 23/10/70

Kevin Miles and Nick Tate

4. Young Jim Westlake

Betty Westlake.......Rowena Wallace
Jim Westlake.......Peter Sumner
Ted Morris.......Ken James

Script.......Peter Schreck
Director.......Tom Jeffrey

Synopsis: Jack Mason surprises his family when he commits ‘The Standard’ to cover the election campaign of a young socialist, Jim Westlake, to Federal Parliament. Westlake is contesting the seat left vacant by his father's death in a by-election.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 28/10/70
Canberra 28/10/70
Melbourne & VIC regional 30/10/70
Brisbane & QLD regional 30/10/70

5. Cry Me A River

Jeannie Reed.......April Mayer
Robin Forest.......Peter Reynolds

Script.......Tony Morphett

Synopsis: Peter Mason brings the controversial American singer, Jeannie Reed, to Australia to make a TV special for Channel 6. He is determined to protect his show by avoiding sensational newspaper stories.

Notes: Tony Morphett was joint winner of an Awgie Award for Best Script For A TV Drama Series (1971) for this episode (shared with John Dingwall for Division 4 episode 54 'Johnny Reb').

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 4/11/70
Canberra 4/11/70
Melbourne & VIC regional 6/11/70
Brisbane & QLD regional 6/11/70

Nick Tate, John Tate, Ron Graham and Kevin Miles

6. Paper Of The People

Athol McCauley.......Frankie Davidson

Script.......John Dingwall
Director.......Frank Arnold

Synopsis: John Mason challenges his father's policy for the family newspaper, ‘The Standard’. John wants roundsmen to have by-lines, and be able to write their own stories in their own style, while Jack Mason believes he has the only right to decide what will or will not be printed.

Notes: The script for this episode was included in Close-Up, a textbook for media students.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 11/11/70
Canberra 11/11/70
Melbourne & VIC regional 13/11/70
Brisbane & QLD regional 13/11/70

Ep. 6: Kevin Miles, Nick Tate, John Tate, Frankie Davidson, Ron Graham and Owen Weingott

7. Second Pressure

Jamie Brooks.......Gerard Maguire
Mrs. Brooks.......Vivienne Benson-Young
Creighton Ransome.......John Gregg
Ambassador.......Alister Smart
General Rahim.......Jim Clifford
Police radio operator.......Bob Haddow
Reporter.......Kevin Golsby
.......Janie Stewart

Script.......Tony Morphett
Director.......Eric Tayler

Synopsis: The Mason's daily newspaper, ‘The Standard’, opposes the visit to Australia of the Cathanese Head of State, General Rahim, alleging that he was responsible for the killing of 30,000 political prisoners. Their headline “Welcome Butcher” is echoed in the “Butcher Rahim” placards of an angry crowd of demonstrators who greet the visitor at Sydney airport. In an ensuing shuffle, the General is shot by Jamie Brooks.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 18/11/70
Canberra 18/11/70
Melbourne & VIC regional 20/11/70
Brisbane & QLD regional 20/11/70

Ep. 7: Vivienne Benson-Young

8. The Champion

Sir Warren Tasker.......Ewan Solon
Joey Saragat.......Tony Zervos
Tommy Keneally.......'Bronco' Hourigan

Script.......Tony Morphett

Synopsis: Sir Warren Tasker, head of Coriolan Motors, wagers a fleet of delivery trucks against six months free advertising with Jack Mason, that he can find a fighter to beat Channel 6's 'Fight Night' champion, Joey Saragat. He hires a young fighter, Tommy Keneally.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 25/11/70
Canberra 25/11/70
Melbourne & VIC regional 27/11/70
Brisbane & QLD regional 27/11/70

John Tate, Owen Weingott and Kevin Miles

9. Have You Got The Numbers?

Wilson.......Jeff Ashby
Jim.......Reg Evans

Script.......Tony Morphett
Director.......Brian Bell
Executive Producer.......Alan Burke
Script Editor.......Glyn Davies

Synopsis: The Mason family power struggle intensifies when John Mason, angered by his father's high-handed interference in editing their daily paper, attempts to manoeuvre Jack Mason upstairs to an administrative position.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 2/12/70
Canberra 2/12/70
Melbourne & VIC regional 4/12/70
Brisbane & QLD regional 4/12/70

Ep. 9: Nick Tate and Jeff Ashby

10. When All The Bets Were Off

Georgina.......Cornelia Frances
Jane.......Jane Dimmett
Emily.......Sally Taylor
Roger.......Dean Alexander

Script.......Tony Morphett
Director.......Frank Arnold

Synopsis: The Mason family power struggle takes a surprising turn when Jack Mason agrees to hand over the daily running of their paper ‘The Standard’ to his three sons. However, his apparent retirement leaves them with little alternative but to compete with each other. Can they trust each other?

Notes: Final episode with John Tate as Jack Mason.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 9/12/70
Canberra 9/12/70
Melbourne & VIC regional 11/12/70
Brisbane & QLD regional 11/12/70

John Tate and Nick Tate

SERIES 2

11. Dead Man's Chair

Script.......Tony Morphett
Director.......Alan Burke

Synopsis: Following the death of Jack Mason in a plane crash, the family power struggle reaches a climax as the three brothers, David, John and Peter, compete for supremacy in the Mason Corporation.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 14/7/71
Canberra 14/7/71
Melbourne & VIC regional 2/8/71
Brisbane & QLD regional 2/8/71

Ron Graham and Ben Gabriel

12. The Killing Ground

Franki Halliday.......Kerry Maguire
Tranh Dinh Quang.......Rick Scully

Script.......Tony Morphett
Director.......Eric Tayler

Synopsis: Franki Halliday, a staff reporter on the Mason's newspaper The Standard, returns war-weary after three months as a prisoner of the Viet Cong. She overcomes her fatigue to write at length of her harrowing experiences. Her unfolding story contains a few surprises which the Masons consider would be unwise to publish, but Franki is determined to tell the whole truth. One of the surprises is that she is pregnant by her captor.

Notes: Tony Morphett won a Penguin award for Scriptwriting (1971) for this episode. Morphett was convinced that the lead role was ‘unplayable’, but Director Eric Tayler suggested Kerry Maguire; Morphett remembered seeing her earlier in a Riptide episode, and she got the part.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 21/7/71
Canberra 21/7/71
Melbourne & VIC regional 9/8/71
Brisbane & QLD regional 9/8/71

Ep. 12: Director Eric Tayler and Kerry Maguire

13. The Coorabungle Deposit

Bill Jarvis.......Ken Goodlet
Morton.......Alfred Sandor
Ken.......Shane Porteous
Selma.......Pat McDonald

Script.......Ron Harrison

Synopsis: The mining game gets rough when a predominantly American owned international company 'jumps' the claim of lone Australian prospector Bill Jarvis.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 28/7/71
Canberra 28/7/71
Melbourne & VIC regional 16/8/71
Brisbane & QLD regional 16/8/71

14. Corrida For A Stunt Man

Jill Campbell.......Rowena Wallace
Bob Campbell.......Rod Mullinar
Harry Mann.......Allan Lander
Leversen.......Gavin Hamilton

Script.......Tony Morphett
Director.......Frank Arnold

Synopsis: Bob Campbell, a stuntman for 15 years, nearly died when his supporting rope broke as he jumped from a high cliff. After many months in hospital, he agrees to a filmed comeback for the Mason's television programme 'Making Them Tick'. The documentary sets out to find what makes Campbell 'tick', and Patricia Mason, as the reporter on the show, has the unenviable task of pursuing a taunting line of questioning. Campbell progresses through several stunts to the point where he must face his 'moment of truth' and prove that he has not lost his skill and courage by repeating the stunt which put him hospital. The film director is a callous man who is concerned less with the stuntman's safety than with making a spectacular programme.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 4/8/71
Canberra 4/8/71
Melbourne & VIC regional 23/8/71
Brisbane & QLD regional 23/8/71

Pat Bishop

15. Who Wants A Bridge?

Lydia Fish.......Kirrily Nolan
Frank Benson.......Peter Gwynne
Tim Searle.......Don Barkham
Waldo.......David Cameron
Gail Potter.......Jennifer West
Mrs. Palmer.......Colleen Clifford
Janie.......Virginia Vagg

Script.......Pat Flower
Director.......Brian Bell

Synopsis: The People's Environment Program, a radical group dominated by women's lib supporters, protests on behalf of an elderly pensioner whose home will be demolished when the local council builds a new bridge. David Mason seems to be supporting them to favour his own interests.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 11/8/71
Canberra 11/8/71
Melbourne & VIC regional 30/8/71
Brisbane & QLD regional 30/8/71
Adelaide & SA regional 6/9/71

Kevin Miles and Owen Weingott

16. Detour To Power

Matt Dawson.......Peter Adams
Helen Dawson.......Fay Kelton
Barney Dawson.......Tom Farley
Douglas Harvey.......Max Meldrum
Bob Thomson.......Max Osbiston
TV interviewer.......Jim Smillie
Phillips.......Dennis Lloyd

Script.......Peter Schreck & Glyn Davies
Director.......Frank Arnold

Synopsis: Matt Dawson is a high-powered and often outspoken union official. He faces a conflict of interest between his professional and personal obligations when his father is involved in an industrial dispute.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 18/8/71
Canberra 18/8/71
Melbourne & VIC regional 6/9/71
Brisbane & QLD regional 6/9/71
Adelaide & SA regional 13/9/71

Ep. 16: Peter Adams and Fay Kelton

17. Nothing Personal

Robert French.......Noel Trevarthen
Jenny Farmer.......Jill Perryman
Biddy.......Ruth Cracknell
George Madden.......Moray Powell

Script.......Alan Burke
Director.......Alan Burke
Producer.......Alan burke

Synopsis:  When former musical comedy star Jenny Farmer returns fresh from triumphant dramatic performances overseas to play the title role in Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, can she convince the local theatre critics that she is indeed as great as her reputation?  When she is panned by the critics, including George Madden of ‘The Standard’, she sues for libel.

Notes: Singer Jill Perryman's first appearance in a dramatic role for television. Features two original songs composed by scriptwriter Alan Burke with music by Peter Stannard.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 25/8/71
Canberra 25/8/71
Melbourne & VIC regional 13/9/71
Brisbane & QLD regional 13/9/71
Adelaide & SA regional 20/9/71

Ep. 17: Jill Perryman

18. Whatever Happened To Jamie Brooks?

Jamie Brooks.......Gerard Maguire
Hermann Friedhof.......Keith Lee
Dr. Loftus.......Max Phipps
Detective.......Ross Higgins
Harold.......Fred ‘Cul’ Cullen
Jim Collins.......Brian Anderson
Warder.......Gordon Piper
Mrs. Brooks.......Janie Stewart

Script.......Tony Morphett
Director.......Brian Bell
Executive Producer.......Alan Burke

Synopsis: After he shot General Rahim, the visiting Cathanese Head of State, Jamie Brooks was arrested. A psychiatrist found him unfit to plead, and he was sent to the security section of Lionelmore Psychiatric Hospital. However, Jamie would prefer to stand trial, as he considers his curent situation is serving a life sentence without a trial, and he now seeks support from the Masons to have his case re-opened.  When a trial is not forthcoming he escapes, heads for Sydney and murders his wife after holding her hostage in a siege at her home.

Notes: Sequel to the events featured in episode 7 'Second Pressure'.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 1/9/71
Canberra 1/9/71
Melbourne & VIC regional 20/9/71
Brisbane & QLD regional 20/9/71
Adelaide & SA regional 27/9/71

Ep. 18: Keith Lee, Gerard Maguire and Max Phipps

19. Two Reds Don't Make A White

Tom Fenwick.......Tom Oliver
Budeniev.......Jeff Ashby
Colleen.......Dawn Lake
Vashilev.......Henry Heydeman

Script.......Ron Harrison
Director.......Frank Arnold

Synopsis: A defecting Russian seaman, who claims to have been the librarian and ship's security officer on a visiting Soviet freighter, and a one-time captain in the KGB, seeks political asylum in Australia. He offers to give his story exclusively to the Masons, provided they agree to his conditions. Tom Fenwick reports his story of the Russian suppression in Czechoslovakia and Hungarian resistance.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 8/9/71
Canberra 8/9/71
Melbourne & VIC regional 27/9/71
Brisbane & QLD regional 27/9/71
Adelaide & SA regional 4/10//71

Ep. 19: Dawn Lake

20. Countdown

Sir Warren Tasker.......Ron Haddrick
Kidnapper.......Denny Lawrence
Young girl.......Georgina West

Script.......Bob Ellis
Director.......Frank Arnold

Synopsis: One angry young man believes that by adhering to their policies of planned obsolescence, the motor car manufacturers are more responsible for the road carnage than the State Government will admit. He is determined that the State Government should introduce road safety reforms, and to gain publicity he kidnaps David Mason.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 15/9/71
Canberra 15/9/71
Melbourne & VIC regional 4/10/71
Brisbane & QLD regional 4/10/71
Adelaide & SA regional 11/10/71

Tony Ward

21. Full Circle

Walter McGarren Jnr........John Meillon
Tom Fenwick.......Tom Oliver
Walter McGarren Snr........Nat Levison

Script.......Tony Morphett

Synopsis: Unk Martell helps to compile a pilot programme for Channel 6's projected series of retrospective documentaries, and his subject is the once wealthy and powerful boss of the Sydney underworld in the 1930's - Walter McGarren. Unk has a special reason for being involved - as a young police reporter, he exposed McGarren's illegal activities and was the victim of a brutal bashing. The proposed new documentary will not only expose McGarren's criminal past, but will probably destroy his highly respectable son. The Masons have to weigh the value of a good story against a man's happiness.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 22/9/71
Canberra 22/9/71
Melbourne & VIC regional 11/10/71
Brisbane & QLD regional 11/10/71
Adelaide & SA regional 18/10/71

Ben Gabriel and Ron Graham

22. Man In The Middle

Marta.......Anne Lucas
Morton.......Alfred Sandor
Stefan Kubelik.......Louis Wishart

Script.......Tony Morphett

Synopsis: Inventor Stefan Kubelik makes a radical invention, a pollution-free high performance engine that could throw the automotive industry into chaos. As a result, he becomes the object of a murder attempt and is catapulted into the world of industrial espionage.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 29/9/71
Canberra 29/9/71
Melbourne & VIC regional 18/10/71
Brisbane & QLD regional 18/10/71

Ben Gabriel, Ron Graham and Nick Tate

23. A Half Tone Block Is Black And White

Const. Sam Patterson.......Ben Blakeney
Tom Fenwick.......Tom Oliver
Mavis Patterson.......Carole Skinner

Script.......Bob Ellis & Ben Blakeney

Synopsis: An Aboriginal policeman, Const. Sam Patterson, is assigned to maintain order at a demonstration planned for the arrival of a South African cricket team in Sydney. How and why is the life and future of a man of little influence affected by a powerful business empire such as that of the Masons?

Notes: Script co-written by Aboriginal actor Ben Blakeney.

Airdate:
Sydney & NSW regional 6/10/71
Canberra 6/10/71
Melbourne & VIC regional 25/10/71
Brisbane & QLD regional 25/10/7

Tony Ward and Owen Weingott